PrePex male circumcision is soon to go in full swing, allaying fears of adult males who are afraid to go under the knife to be circumcised.
Like the rest of the world, the Botswana government is aggressive in attempts to reduce new HIV/AIDS infections and other related deadly sexually-transmitted diseases.
PrePex, a non-surgical circumcision, is expected to be a hit among squeamish adults who might want to be circumcised but are terrified by the sight of a surgical knife near their manhood.
“PrePex will soon be officially launched. This will be a blessing to those who fear to go under the knife as they will have a choice whether to go for the conventional surgical route or use the PrePex,” said the Assistant Minister of Health, Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri, without giving the precise date of the launch.
Besides offering no injected anesthesia, blood and sutures, PrePex does not require sterile settings like those in surgical circumcision.
While initially male circumcision was directed at HIV/AIDS free individuals, the government has since diverted attention to include those affected by the disease.
“Besides reducing HIV/AIDS infections by 60 percent, male circumcision has the potential to reduce transmission that causes cervix cancer on women,” Matlhabaphiri further told Parliament. “It is thus imperative that we found it fit that HIV/AIDS victims wishing to conduct the exercise be included.”
Apart from being safe and simple, PrePex is cost effective and can be implemented by minimally skilled healthcare officials.
While it takes a longer period for the surgical circumcision to heal, the same cannot be said of PrePex, which hardly takes two weeks.
Less pain is also experienced during placement of the plastic device on the foreskin and after removal.
“We therefore encourage our adult population to come on board and assist in the fight against these contagious diseases,” Matlhabaphiri said.
He believes that the exercise will be a success despite a poor showing.
Of the 232 000 targeted, only 78 000 have so far undergone the exercise since 2009, with the 360 000 targeted by 2016 posing a questionable undertaking.
